Its an interesting argument, what makes a better base to grow from? MMA or traditional Martial Arts.

Personally I think its half way. Martial Arts like Karate TWD Kung Fu are not as good as starting with MMA. However I feel that ring Martial Arts like Muay Thai, boxing, BJJ, western wrestling are a good place to start because they just focus on the ring matches. For example I started with Muay Thai and when I go train at MMA with my friends I have a far better stand up game and cardio than them. But their ground game is better so I'm going to have to take up BJJ before I jump in the cage.

I think the issue is MMA doesn't really exist as a Martial Art. It is just a blend of what the instructor has found useful in their past matches.

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Pain is weakness leaving the bodyThe more you sweat in the gym the less you bleed in battle

The school I trained at had a MMA fight team that was based on TKD, BJJ blended with skills from other martial arts such as Muay Thai and boxing. The last school I was at also had a MMA fight team and they based theirs on Muay Thai and BJJ. Each were taught separate for an hour and then MMA trained as a whole for an hour; 3 hours total.

What are TMAs? They are skills that somebody decided to train in a certain manner and then they called it a name; names we are familiar with and have been around for a long long time. MMA is newer but it is the same thing, somebody decided to train particular skills. It doesn't matter what those skills are or what TMA they were taken from, it is just a matter of taking what is felt best to make a fighter better. Whereas TMAs are not predominately focused towards fighters, MMA more so is but even now schools of MMA are around that are not geared for fighting but to train a person self defense and discipline; just like TMAs. Therefore MMA is a form of martial arts.

_________________________"IF I COME ... I'M BRINGING THE PAIN WITH ME"

The school I trained at had a MMA fight team that was based on TKD, BJJ blended with skills from other martial arts such as Muay Thai and boxing. The last school I was at also had a MMA fight team and they based theirs on Muay Thai and BJJ. Each were taught separate for an hour and then MMA trained as a whole for an hour; 3 hours total.

What are TMAs? They are skills that somebody decided to train in a certain manner and then they called it a name; names we are familiar with and have been around for a long long time. MMA is newer but it is the same thing, somebody decided to train particular skills. It doesn't matter what those skills are or what TMA they were taken from, it is just a matter of taking what is felt best to make a fighter better. Whereas TMAs are not predominately focused towards fighters, MMA more so is but even now schools of MMA are around that are not geared for fighting but to train a person self defense and discipline; just like TMAs. Therefore MMA is a form of martial arts.